Scotland At The Movies

20 March 2009, 17:26

Place Of Birth: Glasgow
Date Of Birth: 17th March 1962
Lives: London
Status: Married to Stephen Lironi.

Clare Grogan is a Scottish actress and singer probably best known for acting in Gregory’s Girl and singing in Altered Images.

Grogan and her two sisters all attended the Notre Dame Convent School. She was discovered by film director Bill Forsyth when she was waitressing in a Glasgow restaurant. She subsequently shot to fame at 19 as the female lead in Forsyth's Gregory's Girl.

At the same time Grogan was also developing her singing career as the lead singer of Altered Images, a five-piece that included Johnny McElhone (later of Texas). The band had a string of hits in the 1980s, including Happy Birthday, Don't Talk To Me About Love and I Could Be Happy. Altered Images reunited in name only, as just Grogan performed, in a Here and Now tour in 2005 and more recently at selected dates in 2008.

Her acting career in the 80s continued when she played Charlotte in Comfort and Joy (1984). She had a recurring role playing Dave Lister's would-be love-interest, Kristine Kochanski, in series 1, 2 and 6 of the TV sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf. When offered the same part in series 7, she declined in order to focus on stage acting and was replaced by Chloë Annett.

Grogan has also appeared in Father Ted (episode "Rock-a-Hula Ted") and in EastEnders as Ian Beale's love interest, Ros Thorne. She currently DJs on digital radio station BBC 6 Music, and is also developing a television script. 

Last updated: 20 March 2009, 18:18